Portable storage-battery cell and containing-case therefor.



No. 65min. PatentedNay 29, 1900. n. P. PERRY. TERY OELL AND CONTAININGCASE THEREFOR. (Application filed Apr. 28, 1899,)

PORTABLE STORAGE BAT 2 Sheets-$heet I.

(No Model.)

No. 650,4!7. Patented May 29, I900. O. P. PERRY.

PORTABLE STORAGE BATTERY CELL AND CONTAINING CASE THEREFOR.

A i umion filed Apr. 28, 1899.)

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

DAVID P. PERRY, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

PORTABLE STORAGE- BATTERY CELL AND CONTAINING-CASE THEREFOR.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 650,417, dated May 29,1900. Application filed April 28, 1899. Serial No. 714,926. (No model.)

To aZZ whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, DAVID P. PERRY, a citizen of the United States,residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, haveinvented a certain new and useful Improvement in PortableStorage-Battery Cells and Containing-Cases Therefor, (Case No. 1,) ofwhich the following is a full, clear, concise, and exact description,reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of thisspecification.

My invention relates to portable storagebattery cells andcontaining-cases therefor, and has for its object the provision of acompact and cleanly cell and package adapted to be moved about withoutaffecting the battery.

The battery-cell and containing-casing of my invention are peculiarlyadapted for use in connection with vehicles or bicycles for the purposeof lighting or for furnishing motive power.

It is well known that a battery employed upon vehicles is subjected tothe constant vibration of the vehicle, which with ordinary types ofbattery is sufficient to prevent the proper working of the battery,while involving the loss-of battery fluid, from which un-' pleasant orinjurious results follow. A battery for such uses accordingly requirespeculiar design and construction, and, further- .more, as thebattery-cells are rarely employed singly a compact casing for containinga convenient number of cells is almost a necessity in this class ofwork. By the construction herein shown and described I have been enabledto overcome difficulties frequently met with in the employment of othertypes of battery when the same have been putto the use designated.

' The embodiment of my invention maybe briefly described as consistingof a treatedfiber casing surrounding and generally conforming to aplurality of my improved battery-cells, which casing is provided at thetop with an airspace or chamber normally sealed by a cover, except for asmall opening or vent. The cover is secured in place by means of aclamp-and-hanger device. The contained battery-cells are secured andsealed in position within the casing, each cell being pro-' vided with acentral positive and surrounding negative plates, the terminals of whichmixture, each tube being closedby a perfo-' rated stopper. The terminalsare of heavy lead wire and are of serpentine form, being secured to thecontaining metallic casing of the plate at or near the bottom thereof.The battery parts are separated by and securely held in position withinthe fiber casing of the cell by asbestos packing.

The details of my said invention will be more readily understood byreference to the accompanying drawings, in connection with whichdrawings I will describe the same, wherein- Figure 1 is a side view inelevation, showing my improved casing and clamp. Figs. 2 and 3 arevertical sectional views thereof. Fig. 4 is a plan view of the casingand cell tops, showing the connection with the terminals. Figs. 5, 6,and 7 are views showing the preferred form of terminal and connectingpart. Fig. 8 is an enlarged plan view of a single battery-cell, alsoshowing the connections. Fig. 9 is a vertical sectional View of thebattery-cell. Figs. 10 and 11 are crossseotional views on lines A A andB B of Fig. 9, and Fig. 12 is a vertical sectional view of thebattery-cell at right angles to that of Fig. 9.

The same letters of reference are employed to designate like parts ineach of the figures of the drawings.

The containing-casing a is constructed of as indicated in Fig; 4,the'battery-terminals' being carried laterally through the wall ofthecontaining-casing, upon either side of which a ball or knob c isprovided. The tubes (1 of the battery-cells extend some distance abovethe respective tops of the saidcells, and a suitable insulating andsealing mixture is melted and poured over the tops' of said cells, whichserves hermetically to seal the cells and terminals in position withinthe casing. A short distance above the top of the sealing mixture e aseat is provided upon the inner walls and near the top of the casing,which is adapted to receive the.

position, as shown in Figs. 1 and 3, the inclined portions of the strapsh are engaged with the upper portion of the wooden cover f, and the sameis forced firmly against the seat provided within the battery-casing.The terminal-knobs c are adapted to be engaged by spring-washers j,(shown in Figs. and 6,) which are provided with spring-segments adaptedto engage the respective knobs and effect electrical connection with theassociated lamp or other translating device connected at X, Fig. 3.

My improved and preferred form of port able storage-battery cell isshown in the remaining figures of the drawings, the views thereof bein genlarged and illustrating a single cell within its casing. The manner ofsealing the cell within its containing-casing a and of bringing out theterminals beneath the layer ofsealing compound is identical 1 with thatpreviously described, the details being shown more fully in Figs. 8 and9.

In this cell the central plate 7c is the positive and theouter plates Zare the negative electrodes of the battery. Between the said plates are;disposed.the insulating-tubes d, having latorally-extending arms orpins d, which assist in maintaining the plates in their relativepositions. The tubes (1 are adapted to receive the sulfuric acid and areperforated at .intervals throughout their length to permit theelectrolyte to reach the plates of the battery. .Said plates areconstructed of perforated rolled sheet-lead, which sheets are formed toreceive the oxid, as shown in Fig.

. 11, and fit closely within the inner wall of V the cell.

A heavy lead terminal m extends from the top of the cell to the bottomof the plate, where it is fused or soldered tothe body-of the metal,that portion of the terminal beneath the oxid which is filled into theplate and thoroughly tamped down being given a serpentine form, as shownin Fig. 12. The complete tubesandplates having been assembled, thepositive and negative plates are separated by means of sheet-asbestos n,which is wrapped about'the top of the positive and the bottoms of thenegative plates. All are then bound together by means of wrappings ofasbestos twine and are placed within the inner cell, which is thenclosely packed with asbestos nearly to the tops of the plates. Thisasbestos packing and wrapping not, only serves as an insulator, butprevents the several parts of the battery-cell from becoming loose orhaving relative movement, which is highly important in a portablebattery. Moreover, a cell constructed in this manner'permits of theexpansion of the plates under the influence of the electric currentwithout damage to the cells, since the asbestos becomes somewhatsoftened and spongy when immersed in the sulfuric acid and accordinglysubserves this purpose in an admirable manner. To this same end theterminals m are given a serpentine form, which permits of considerableself-adjustment on the part of the plate without endangering itsconnection with the terminal-knob. The cross-section of wire m ispurposely made of considerable size in order to secure an increasedexposure of surface and also prevents the wire from becoming quicklydeteriorated and impairing or breaking the connection. Two annularwashers o, of asbestos and rubber, are disposed above the tops of theplates, and a short fiber cylinder 19 is placed thereon. A perforatedfiber lid q, adapted to receive the ends of terminal-wires m and tubescl, is then placed over the top of the inner cell and wall 19.Perforated corks are inserted in the tops of tubes d. The terminal-wiresare treated to prevent the creeping of acid and are bent over, asalready described, the negative plates being connected, as clearly shownin Fig. 8, and the terminals are led laterally to knobs 0, providedupon-the casing. A melted sealing mixture is then poured over the top ofthe cell, which upon hardening serves her' metically to seal the same.The corks being removed from tubes (1, said tubes and cell are videdwith an intermediate chamberg and a tightly-fittin g cover f, restingupon a seat provided in the outer casing a. A single cell or group ofcells when constructed in the manner shown and described will be foundto be extremely efficient, cleanly, and capable of being subjected tohard usage and constant transportation. A-relatively-small body of acidin the cell is sealed in position, minute vents being provided for theescape of gases generated within the cell, the vents, however,communicating with a closed intermediate chamber which is adapted topermit the gradual dissipation of the gases through its vent,

While retaining any small portion of the acid-- that escapes throughfrothing or is carried out by the generated gas. The terminal-wires mbeing maintained wholly out of contact with the air, since they arehermetically sealed beneath the sealing mixture 12, are not liable to beeaten off or become deteriorated, which obviates a frequent objectionmade against storage batteries.

Various modifications may be made in the improvements herein shown anddescribed without departing from the spirit of my invention; but,

Having shown and described apparatus embodying my invention, I claim asnew, and desire to secure by these Letters Patent, together with allsuch modifications as may be made by mere skill, the following:

1. The combination with a plurality of battery-cells b, of acontaining-easing 0. formed of treated fiber and conforming generally tothe shape of the battery-cells, terminal-wires extending laterally toterminal parts 0 provided upon the sides of the casing, a sealingmaterial covering the tops of the battery cells and terminals, and atightly-fitting perforated cover f disposed within the said casing,between which and the tops of the battery-cells is provided anintermediate chamber, substantially as and for the purpose described.

2. In a battery of the class described, the combination with the plates70 Z, of a sealing mixture applied to the top of the battery, terminalparts, and terminal-wires 112 connected with said plates and extendinglaterally beneath said sealing mixture to said terminal parts, wherebythe wires are hermetically in closed and protected, substantially asdescribed.

cell adapted to contain the fluid electrolyte,

conductors or wires m connected with the said plates and forming theterminals of the cell, and a sealing mixture e disposed upon the top ofthe cell, covering the said conductors and hermetically sealing thecell, substantially as described.

4. In a battery-cell of the class described, the combination with plates70 Z, of perforated tubes (1 interposed between the said plates andadapted'to contain the electrolyte, a packing material inserted in thecell and adapted to maintain the several parts in position, and a.sealing mixture disposed at the top of the cell covering the terminalsand surrounding the tubes, substantially as described.

5. In a battery-cell of theclass described, the combination with platesZ: Z, of perforated tubes d interposed between the said plates andadapted to contain the electrolyte, a packin g material inserted in thecell and adapted.

to maintain the several parts in position, a sealing mixture disposed atthe top of the cell covering the terminals and surrounding the tubes,and an intermediate chamber provided at the top of the cellcommunicating with the tube adapted to receive the escaping gases andliquid, substantially asdescribed.

In witness whereof I hereunto subscribe my name this 18th day of April,A. D. 1899.

DAVID P. PERRY.

Witnesses:

GEORGE L. CRAGG, CHARLES E. HUBERT.

